Gas-heater



May 12,1925.

1,537,134 H. w. PARTLow GAS HEATER GOVERNOR Filed Nov. 26. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 4 Yz5' a 1,537,134 H. W. PARTLOW GAS HEATER GOVERNOR Filedlfloy, 26. 1923 2 ShetS-Shet. 2

May 12, 1925.`

Wie mi 5 `lllllllllll W i Ain Patented May l2, i925.

Unire!) srafres`v tra ' and i rATENr ortie GAS-HEATER GOVERNOR.

Application led November 26, Serial No. 675,969..

To all whom 'it l/natfl/ concern:

Be it known that l, How/nm lllnns'rnn PnRTLow, acitizen oi the United States, residing at Utica, in the county ot' Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Gas- Heater Governors, of which the following is a specilication. 1 i

This invention relates to thermostatic control forv gas-heated meltingpots, waterheaters, and the like, and has for its object to. provide a novel thermostatic governor which is equipped. with a valve that controls a Huid-pressure medium, by which the fuel-v valve is operated. provide a novel fuel-valve which comprises two diaphragms oid'ilierent size, wherein the larger diaphragm is operated by the fluid-pressure derived from the thermostat-ic governor, and the smaller diaphragm is opera-ted by the larger diaphragm vand controls the iiow of theuel-gas towards the burner. A further object is'to provide means for maintaining a pilot light for igniting,` the burner. A further object is to provide means (forge/,raging the closing movement ot the `fuelgas valve.Y And .aparticular object is to provide a governor for gas-heaters which is arranged to control fuel-gas when the Llatter is delivered tothe heater aft/preseures higher than normal. Y

I attain these objects by the means set iorth `in the detailed description which iiollmvs,` and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l `is ay diagrammatic elevationalv view of the thermostatic governor and fuel-` valve applied to a meltingpot, the latter being in section. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view .of the governor; showing' the dial. fis a top plan view of the governor with the cover removed. F lf is a. central vertical section, showing the construction and arrangrementv ci the thermostatic governor and related parte. AndFig. 5 is a similar. sectional view of the fuel-iras:4 valve taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l. y

In. the drawings, 2 represents a melting pot filled with molten metal 2. 3 is an ordinary gas-burner, by which the pot 2 is heated, thek gas therefor being` supplied by a valve, which consists of a hollow circular base 4, upon which is mounted a correspondingly shaped portion 4, the saidy parts being'k fastened together by screws 4ta., The base A has a central outlet 4b, which is A further object is to tappedv by a pipe 5.' 4 4 is disposed a relatively large circular diaphragm 6, whose edges are tightly clamped between the i'anges of said parts, as best seen in Fig'. 5. The diaphragm 6 divides a chamber 6, and its top tace isy partially overlaid by ametal disc 6, for stiiicntween chambered circular portions ad, prei" erably an integral part of the portion 4f, and a correspondingly shaped portion 8,

assent Between the parts 'ing the medial portion yof the diaphragm, l

which forms the base of an upright cylindrical bodyv 8. The diaphragm 7 and the parts 46H8 are held in place by screws 8a.y The diaphragm 7 spans and divides a circular chamber 8b, and is raised by means of a piston or plunger 9, which is reciprocatable vertically between the diaphragme 6 and 7. The lstem `9 of the plunger rests upon the diaphragm 6., and its top `end is enlarged into a disc 9, which rests upon a' ledge SC, when the diaphragm 6 is relaxed, as shown in Fig. 5. Thel top face of the disc 9:L is covered by a disc 9'? preferably made of felt or rubber, which makes direct contact with the underside of diaphragm' 7. Above they diaphragmf.7 the body 8 is formed with a smaller concentric cylinder 8d, whose lower end is open and registers with the discs f1-4P. The top of the chamber 8d is threaded for ,receiving a' threaded nipple 10, upon y which is mounted an ordinary union 10,', which in turn connects with a main VJfuelgassupply pipe l2. Theiuel-g'ras enters the chamber 8d, and when the diaphragme '6 and 7 arein the positions shown in yfull lines inFig. 5, the gas flows from the lower end lof chamber 8d into an annular chamber S, vfrom which. the gas passes through an outlet 8f, and is carried towards the burner Bvby a pipe The portion of the chamber 8b lying below the diaphragm 7r is ventilated by normally open vent 8X. The diaphragm 6; is raised by iiuid pressureadlnitted to the chamber 6', beneath diaphragm 6, and the latter forces the planger 9 upwardly for correspondingly.lifting the diaphragm 7 and closing the lower end of the passage 8d. This shuts off the flow Aof thefgas to the burner and extinguishes the flame by which the pot 2 is heated. The total extinguislnnent of the burner may be prevented by means of a mnnber of stops, which consist of screws 14, which are adjustable in threaded holes formed in the part 4; the free lower ends of the screws being arranged to engage the top side of the plate GfL (see Fig. 5). The stops 14 are preferably protected by screw-caps 14. The diaphragm 6 is preferably considerably larger in diameter than the diaphragm 7, so as to ensure adequate power for positively seating the valve 7, especially when the fuel-gas is supplied at greater than normal pressures.

My double diaphragm valve is controlled by a thermostatic governor, which will now be described: 15 represents the hollow body of the governor, which is supplied with gas or air, by a pipe 15', the gas being discharged from the body through the pipe 5, which conducts the fluid pressure to the cavity 6 beneath the diaphragm 6, for operating the two diaphragms, as explained. The outflow of the fluid pressure from the body 15 is controlled by a spherical valve 16, which is disposed in a tubular part 17, the latter having a hollow stem 17, which is adjustably disposed in the bore of a depending portion 15a of the body, to which the pipe 5 is attached. The part 17 has an arm 17a, which is provided with a threaded hole 17h, in which is disposed a relatively long screw 18, by which the part 17 may be lowered and raised relatively to the valve 16, as shown by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 4. iVithin the enlarged top end of the part 17 is formed an annular seat 17c for the valve 16. By moving the seat towards and away from the ball 16 correspondingly quickens or retards the opening and closing actions of the valve, and accordingly varies the range of temperatures of the meltingpot or other device. The screw 18 has an enlarged top end 18', which is supported by the cover 15c of the body. The head 18 is rotatable ina bushing 19, which screws into a boss 15d of the cover, and its extreme top end is fitted with a disc 20, the latter having a milled edge for facilitating manipulation of the screw. Upon the disc 20 is mounted a dial 2l., which preferably bears degree numerals within a certain range, as best secu in Fig.` 2. When a certainnuiuber ou the dial is positioned opposite a pointer 22, the valve 16 will automatically open or close when the temperature of the contents of the pot 2 corresponds with the said number.

The valve 16 is controlled by a thermostatic device, which comprises the following parts: 23 represents an elongated metal leg or part, which is hollow throughout, and whose top end is formed with a flange 23, by which it is secured to the bottom face of the body 15, by screws 23a. The bottom of the bodv 15 has an opening 15a, which `registers with the chamber of the part 23. 'lhc lower end of the leg 23 is threaded, as at 23, and below the threads the leg is formed with a vertical ledge 23C. The thermostatic element proper consists of a tube 24, which alone is usually submerged in the molten metal 2 (see Figs. 1 and 4). The top end of the tube 24 is formed with a bell 24, which is internally threaded for screwing ou to the portion 23b of the leg. The lower end of tube 24 is provided with an internally and externally threaded portion 24, the said end being closed and sealed by a cap 25. lVithin the tube 24 is disposed a rod 26,

preferably comprising a metal of extremely i low or no expansibility, the said rod being perforated, as at 26, for rendering the same practically non-expansible. The lower end of the rod 26 is threaded and is fitted with a nut 27, which is screwed on to the rod until it engages an adjacent shoulder of the tube. Then a locking nut 27 is screwed into the open end of the tube for holding the rod and nut 27 rigidly in place. The top end of the rod 26 is forked, and is pivoted to the lower end of a lever 28, by a pin 28. The lever 28 then extends upwardly towards the middle of the leg, and its top end is litted with a fork 28a, which straddles the lower end of a similar but inverted lever 29, the latter being pivoted by a screw 29 to a block 30, which is rigid on the flange 23 of the leg. The top end of lever 29 is provided with a laterally extending arm 29a. Upon the block 30 is pivotally mounted a pair of dogs 31. and 32, by screws 31a; the said dogs having similar ball portions 31 and 32, which normally engage the top edge of the arm 29a of lever 29, in such manner that when the lower end of lever 29 is moved towards the left, as indicated by the dotted lines in 4, the arm 29a swings upwardly and rocks the top ends of the dogs away from each other. The dogs 31-32 support one end of a relatively long valve lever 33, and for this purpose said lever is provided with pins 33 and 33, which are respectively engaged by a hook 31" of dog 31, and by the outer edge of dog 32. The spreading of the dogs sii'mlltaneously moves the pin 33 towards the right and pin 33 towards the left.. ',lhis tilts the free end of' lever 33, to which the valve 16 is suspended, upwardly for raising and opening' the valve. fllhrough the several connections last. described, the expansion of the tube 24 eliects the opening of the valve 16, and allows the fluid pressure to flow from the body 15, via pipe 5, into the bottom of the chamber 6', for raising the two diaphragms 6 and 7 and shutting off the fuel-gas at the passage 8d. This action of the governor and fuel valve is effected whenever the temperature of the contents of the pot 2 rises above the predetermined degree indicated by the dialy 21. lVhen however,

1,537,134 e y e the temperature of the melting-pot falls below the predetermined degree, the tube 24 contracts and by reasonof the rigid connection of the tube with the rod 26, effects the reversal of the levers 28-29-33, Which allows the valve 16 to become seated, for shutting oli' the. supply of fluid pressure to the chamber 6. Following each closing of the valve 16, the gas coniined in the pipe 5 and chamber 6 Wastes through a small nozzle 34, which comprises a pilot burner. The stoppage ol" the flow of gas from the governor 15 to the chamber 6', allovvs the two diaphragms to gravitate to their normal positions, shown by the 'full lines in Fig. 5. This permits the fuel gas to flow from chamber 8 into chamber Se, and thence through pipe 13 to the burner 3, for restoring the temperature ol the melting-pot. The re'plenishing or' the contents of the pot 2, generally instantly lowers the temperature several degrees, and effects sequentially the contraction of the elementf, the closing of the valve 16, the opening of the valve 7and the relighting of the burner 3, as explained. The thermostat 2-1-26 and related parts are so arranged that, the rise or fall of temperature of the melting-pot to the extent of one-halt a degree eifeets the almost instant closing and opening of the fuel-valve 7.

lVhile I have shown and described my gas heater governor applied to a melting-pot, itis obvious that it is equally applicable to other forms of heaters and to the heating of a medium other than metal.

moved in one direc-tion bythe iiuidpressure, and adjustable means forlimiting the movement of the second diaphragm to vary the flow ot gas to the burner.

2. The combination with a melting-pot, a

burner for heating said pot, and a source ot Huid pressure, of avalve chamber communieating with the fluid pressure, a valve in the chamber for controlling the flow of pressure through the chamber, a thermostat for operating said valve, said thermostat communicating with the chamber andy extending dovvn into the melting pot, a fuel-gas valve comprising a diaphragm, a piston for operating said diaphragm, a larger diaphragm for operating said piston in the direction for closing the fuel-gas valve, said larger diaphragm adapted to be operated by the tiuid pressure, and adjustable stop-screw means for limiting the flexing of ysaid larger diaphragm to control the supply of gas to the burner through the fuel-gas valve.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HOWARD WEBSTER marrow. 

